New PSNH rates took effect Jan. 1

CONCORD - New rates for Public Service Company of New Hampshire electricity customers took effect on Tuesday, after approval by the Public Utilities Commission last week.

In an order issued on Dec. 28, the regulatory agency approved an increase in the energy service charge of 9.54 cents per kilowatt hour, up from the 2012 energy charge of 7.11 cents per kwh.

The increase in the energy service charge will be offset to a degree by a reduction in the charge for stranded cost recovery, designed to compensate PSNH for costs brought about by deregulation of the energy industry in New Hampshire.

The stranded cost recovery charge was approved at .737 cents per kwh, compared to 1.88 cents per kwh in 2012.

A customer using 500 kilowatt hours per month will see their monthly bill go up from $86.35 to $92.43, an increase of about 7 percent.